Eagles ink top free-agent offensive tackle to replace Jason Peters

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A day after starting left tackle Jason Peters had what will most likely be season-ending Achilles surgery; the Eagles signed his probable replacement.

Former Bills tackle Demetress (Don’t Call Him Demetrius) Bell has inked a five-year deal with the Eagles, the team announced Wednesday.

“Demetress was one of the top free agent offensive linemen available this year and we are happy to be able to add him to our squad,” said Eagles coach Andy Reid. “We had a chance to meet him over the weekend and study him extensively on tape and we came away quite impressed with what we saw and heard. He’s a great athlete.”

The 6-foot-5-inch, 311-pounder started 30 games in Buffalo since being drafted in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Bell is expected to replace Peters -- who Bell actually pretty much replaced in Buffalo after Peters was traded to Philly. Peters is an All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler on the left side of the Eagles line.

Much like fellow line mate Danny Watkins, Bell was a late-comer to football. He averaged 17.8 points and 10.2 rebounds a game while being named an All-Louisiana basketball player at Summerfield High School. And only started playing football his freshman year at Northwestern State after going to the school to play basketball.